146 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ February 21, 1884. 
thousand pots of Strawberries are forced annually. Plants for sup¬ 
plying cut flowers are extensively grown, and Gardenias are grown to 
perfection and in quantities. There is a large stock of very fine 
pecimen plants of Eucharis amazonica, which were in full bloom 
recently, and Richardias are grown in great number. Roses under 
glass are similarly abundant—a large number are planted out, and 
about 3000 plants are in pots. The kitchen garden and orchards are 
extensive, a new fruit garden of about 15 acres being added a year 
since, in which 50,000 fruit trees and bushes were planted. This 
will soon be one of the wonders of Harefield, and it is in contempla¬ 
tion to still further extend it. The pleasure grounds are pleasantly 
situated, and one of the largest lawn tennis grounds in the kingdom 
has just been laid out and planted. Harefield is easily reached from 
London via Watford and Kickmansworth, and is about a mile and a 
Tialf from the latter station, and close to Moor Park and other cele¬ 
brated horticultural establishments. Mr. John Gough, formerly head 
gardener to Lord Hampton, is in charge of Harefield, and a very 
large proportion of the glass has been erected under his supervision. 
—W. D. W. 
Chatsworth. —We have authority for stating that Me. Owen 
Thomas of Impney Hall Gardens, Droitwich, and previously for several 
yrars head gardener to Sir Robert Peel at Drayton Manor, has been 
appointed to succeed the late Mr. Speed at Chatsworth. Mr. Thomas 
is a highly skilled gardener, and we have not a doubt that he will 
maintain the fame of the great gardens to which he is appointed and 
Ms own well-won reputation. He has on several occasions enriched 
our columns, and was the originator of Mr. Wright’s work, “ Mushrooms 
fcr the Million,” that has had such a large sale since its publication. 
- Amongst the sums received during the week for the benefit of 
the family of the late Mr. Alexander Honeyman, Mr. Wright desires 
to acknowledge thankfully a donation of £1 from the assistance fund 
of the Edinburgh Horticultural Association. “ A Devon Gardener,” 
“ A Camberwell Gardener,” “ W., Abergavenny ,” “ Old Gardener,” “ J. R., 
Leeds," “ A Working Gardener,” “W. J., Kendal," and “A Dorking 
Gardener ” have also sent contributions, which could not be acknow¬ 
ledged by post. Mrs. Honeyman and family have returned to Scotland 
The expenses of the journey, with those attendant on the illness and 
interment of our lamented friend, having been met, any additions to 
the surplus will be gratefully acknowledged. The case is clearly 
before the public, and requires no special pleading. Of the five 
children left quite unprovided for the eldest is only nine years of age. 
Mr. Wright hopes to raise £15 more, and will then feel, for the present, 
that he has done his duty in this exceptionally painful case. 
- As a remarkable example of the mild winter a correspondent 
sends the following —“Mr. Chas. Falkner of the Slough Hotel, Pershorei 
cut a branch off a Gooseberry tree on Thursday last with berries on as 
large as small peas, and strange to say red spider was noticed on the 
trees.” 
- Messes. E. Webb & Sons, Wordsley, Stourbridge, send U3 
a few flowers of some brightly coloured Cyclamens, of good size 
and excellent in form, the petals broad and rounded. Purple, red, 
pure white, and red and white, are the colours represented, the last- 
named being very pretty. 
-The Bury St. Edmunds and West Suffolk Horti¬ 
cultural Society Shows for the present year will be held upon 
July 3rd and September 11th and 12th in the Farnham Park and 
the Corn Exchange respectively. 
- “Cultivator” writes respecting the Improved Round¬ 
leaved Batavian Endive as follows:—“I have a very high opinion 
of the above Endive, but your correspondent ‘ J. M.’ appears to think 
it hardier than any other variety, but such is not the case in the 
north of England. The ordinary Batavian Endive has proved hardier 
here, and will stand more frost and rain ; in fact, it should be grown 
in every garden as well as the above variety, more especially in 
localities where the rainfall is heavy and frost often severe. The rain 
and damp atmosphere prove more detrimental to both varieties than 
dry frosts. I can confirm all ‘ J. M.’ says in relation to its quality, 
for no other variety is equal to it in tenderness and flavour.” 
- The remarkable specimen Cyclamen shown by Mr. J. 
Wiggins, gardener to W. Clay, Esq., Grove Koad, Kingston, at Ken¬ 
sington last week, is one of the finest that has ever been exhibited, and 
well merited the cultural commendation awarded for it. The plant is 
about seven years old, and was growing in a 9-inch pot, the corm 
being quite concealed by the leaves, flowers, and buds. The specimen 
was in wonderful health, with strong beautifully marbled foliage, and 
over 300 flowers and expanding buds. The variety, which is named 
General Gordon, is of excellent habit, the flowers pure white, of 
moderate size, but very freely produced ; and a number of younger 
plants, seedlings from this, exactly resemble their parent in these 
characters. 
- A good daughter of a good gardener sends the following note 
on the Annie Elizabeth Apple :—“ My father wishes me to write 
you a line, while he smokes his pipe, to say that we consider Annie 
Elizabeth the finest cooking Apple on the earth.” The specimens 
accompanying the note were very firm, and when cooked brisk and 
excellent, 
- The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society’s Exhi¬ 
bitions will be held in the Waverley Market, Edinburgh, on April 
2nd and 3rd, July 9th and 10th, and September 17th and 18th. At 
the first Show £350 are offered in prizes, forced plants forming the 
leading features. At the second £256 are offered for miscellaneous 
plants, cut flowers, fruit, and vegetables. Prizes amounting to £270 
will be given at the Autumn Show, fruit being largely provided for. 
- Mrs. R. B. Dodgson, widow of the late R. B. Dodgson, Esq., of 
Beardwood near Blackburn, whose collection of Orchids was one of the 
finest in Lancashire, died last month, having survived her husband little 
more than a year, made many very large bequests to public institutions, 
and among the rest £500 to the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution 
- The annual dinner of the Horticultural Club took place 
on Tuesday last, and was numerously attended. The chair was taken 
by Mr. John Lee, Chairman of the Committee, and amongst those 
present were Dr. Hogg, Rev. F. H. Gall, Rev. Th. Flintoff; Messrs. 
J. D. T. Llewelyn, Shirley Hibberd, Harry J. Veitch, George Deal, 
J. F. Strange, C. P. Wheatstone, Herbert J. Adams, J. S. Cousens, 
Ch. F. Druery, H. W. Slottentoff, &c. It was announced that the 
Club had during the past year subscribed ten guineas to the Gardeners’ 
Benevolent Institution, and that the following gentlemen had been 
elected members of the Committee in lieu of four who had retired 
according to rule — Messrs. Shirley Hibberd, Harry Turner, Ch. F. 
Druery, and the Rev. Theodore Flintoff. A report was agreed on, and 
will shortly be issued. 
-A correspondent informs us of a case of Mushroom-grow¬ 
ing UNDER NOVEL CIRCUMSTANCES in the following words '“ Tell 
Mr. Wright I lent my copy of his work on Mushrooms to an old man, 
and he has now Mushrooms growing under the table in his room. He 
has cut one dish, and will have others as the crop is coming on well, 
now eight weeks after spawning. He has another box in his cupboard 
on the bottom shelf amongst the china, and evidently means business.” 
The “old man” will at least have home-grown Mushrooms, and we 
hope he will enjoy them. 
- Very distinct and attractive in Mr. Major’s greenhouse at 
Croydon are some strong-flowering plants of Veltheimia yiridifolia, 
the stout Tritoma-like spikes (18 inches high) bearing a number of rosy 
flesh-coloured flowers. The stems, springing from a mass of rich deep 
shining green foliage, have a telling effect among Hyacinths and other 
spring flowers, and similar examples could not fail being admired in 
conservatories in which they might be so easily produced. This good 
old, yet seldom seen, Cape bulbous plant succeeds in cold frames during 
the summer, and flowers freely in a greenhouse temperature at this 
period of the year. Strong plants well grown form very large bulbs, 
and produce offsets freely. A number of spikes are produced from the 
plants in 8-inch pots, and the flowers continue in beauty for several 
weeks. 
-The Royal Botanical and Horticultural Society of 
Manchester will hold their annual national Exhibition in the gardens 
